Main navigation

4-H Clubs for Youth

(All of the links on this page lead to external sites)

4-H has grown into a community of 6 million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. 4-H can be found in every county in every state, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and over 80 countries around the world. The 4-H community also includes 3,500 staff, 518,000 volunteers and 60 million alumni. 4-H'ers participate in fun, hands-on learning activities, supported by the latest research of land-grant universities, that are focused on three areas called Mission Mandates (PDF):

The 106 land-grant universities across the country deliver research driven programs through Extension agents in each of the more than 3,000 counties. The 4-H leadership builds on the strength of our state and local professionals in partnership with the National 4-H Headquarters.

National 4-H Headquarters

National 4-H Headquarters at USDA is the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) flagship youth development program. CSREES partners with the Land-Grant University System to create youth development outreach programs that take the university knowledge and expertise to youth in rural, suburban, and urban communities. CSREES also partners with public and private agricultural and nonagricultural sectors and other federal, state, and local agencies in program development and support.

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development

New research shows that youth development programs like 4-H play a special and vital role in the lives of America's young people. According to The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development, youth have the capacity to thrive when presented with the resources for healthy development found in families, schools, and communities, regardless of background, socioeconomic status, race, or gender.